About Janis

Janis and Molly Brown

Janis’ passion for plants and the natural world has been a driving force in her life as long as she can remember. She moved to the Aspen/Snowmass area in 1970, and has spent more than 40 years exploring the upper Roaring Fork Valley and Colorado’s high country, studying the plants, wildlife and ecosystems. For her, this connection with the outdoors means feeling exhilarated about life and inspires her to share this enthusiasm with others. For many years she has guided naturalist tours for Aspen’s Center for Environmental Studies, worked as a field botanist on the western slope for the Colorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University, and taught others in sports such as alpine skiing and windsurfing. Janis continues to travel the state, hiking, observing nature and photographing wildflowers. She received a B.S. in Natural Sciences with an emphasis in Botany from the University Without Walls at Loretto Heights College (Denver) in 1981, where she was chosen “Student of the Year” for work on a Crystal River Valley field guide. Because she has a love of travel, her education was accomplished through study at several universities – the University of Denver, the University of California at Santa Barbara, and the Biological Station at Flathead Lake in Montana. Janis also holds a degree in Clinical Herbal Therapy from the Artemis Institute of Natural Therapies in Boulder. She hopes that readers of her field guides will be inspired to look at the landscape “through new eyes,” to cherish the fascinating species with which we share our surroundings, and to seek new ways to secure the future of those species as they are a part of the matrix that enriches life. Janis lives in Snowmass Village with her husband George, Molly Brown and their cockatiel, Poppy.

Many people have asked for this, so here it is – A photo from the October 2006 book awards in Denver, CO with my faithful supporter and adorable husband George…